My interpretation is that it's an aspect of Chen's muse talking to him, and those inspired in a similar way. Which is not to say anyone else's is wrong or unsupported. But, recently, I hear the lines like this, possibly because I am a one man band partially named after this song:
Well I stepped into an avalanche, (I entered the world of senses)
It covered up my soul; (but could not be properly expressed)
When I am not this hunchback that you see, (When I am not this negative ugliness I project)
I sleep beneath the golden hill. (I remain as an eternal archetype of desire)
You who wish to conquer pain,
(To defeat what I express)
You must learn, learn to serve me well. (You must find it's perfect expression through yourself)
You strike my side by accident (You come across my dark vein of creativity)
As you go down for your gold. (As you search for your own voice and meaning/success
L.C often said he got into music cause it paid better than poetry)
The cripple here that you clothe and feed (This archetype to which you give musical form)
Is neither starved nor cold;
(Does not actually need you, many others do the same)
He does not ask for your company,
(You are not necessary),
Not at the centre, the centre of the world. [Because I (the archetype) am essential and eternal in the human spirit]
When I am on a pedestal,
You did not raise me there.
( I made you famous and relevant, not the other way around)
Your laws do not compel me
To kneel grotesque and bare.
(You can't invoke me for your art without experiencing me on my own terms)
I myself am the pedestal (Everyone listens to your dark songs because I am inside them too)
For this ugly hump at which you stare. (And that's why you find me compelling to write about)
You who wish to conquer pain,
You must learn what makes me kind; (If you want to stop suffering, find the key to the redemption of the archetype and it's real meaning.)
The crumbs of love that you offer me, (Fake, maudlin, rehashed emotions will not do the trick)
They're the crumbs I've left behind. (They have already been expressed.)
Your pain is no credential here, (Your personal suffering is not special, and entitles you to nothing)
It's just the shadow, shadow of my wound. (But it shows you where I am inside your psyche)
I have begun to long for you, (You are feeling the need to say)
I who have no greed (What does not need or want to be said)
I have begun to ask for you, (You are becoming a chosen vehicle of my expression)
I who have no need. (Although I am omnipresent in everyone already)
You say you've gone away from me, (You want to separate your life from the force you invoked, and find a gentler muse)
But I can feel you when you breathe. (But I'm in you now, constantly, like it or not.)
Do not dress in those rags for me, (Don't pretend your personal experience of suffering is unique and worthy of sympathy)
I know you are not poor (It isn't, and we both know it.)
And don't love me quite so fiercely now (I gave you ideas, and you were proud, but lose the pride)
When you know that you are not sure, (You have not yet fully experienced me)
It is your turn, beloved,
It is your flesh that I wear
(But you will. And so will others, through you.).
My interpretation is that it's an aspect of Chen's muse talking to him, and those inspired in a similar way. Which is not to say anyone else's is wrong or unsupported. But, recently, I hear the lines like this, possibly because I am a one man band partially named after this song:
Well I stepped into an avalanche, (I entered the world of senses) It covered up my soul; (but could not be properly expressed)
When I am not this hunchback that you see, (When I am not this negative ugliness I project) I sleep beneath the golden hill. (I remain as an eternal archetype of desire)
You who wish to conquer pain,
(To defeat what I express) You must learn, learn to serve me well. (You must find it's perfect expression through yourself)
You strike my side by accident (You come across my dark vein of creativity) As you go down for your gold. (As you search for your own voice and meaning/success L.C often said he got into music cause it paid better than poetry)
The cripple here that you clothe and feed (This archetype to which you give musical form) Is neither starved nor cold;
(Does not actually need you, many others do the same) He does not ask for your company,
(You are not necessary), Not at the centre, the centre of the world. [Because I (the archetype) am essential and eternal in the human spirit]
When I am on a pedestal,
You did not raise me there. ( I made you famous and relevant, not the other way around) Your laws do not compel me
To kneel grotesque and bare. (You can't invoke me for your art without experiencing me on my own terms) I myself am the pedestal (Everyone listens to your dark songs because I am inside them too) For this ugly hump at which you stare. (And that's why you find me compelling to write about)
You who wish to conquer pain,
You must learn what makes me kind; (If you want to stop suffering, find the key to the redemption of the archetype and it's real meaning.) The crumbs of love that you offer me, (Fake, maudlin, rehashed emotions will not do the trick) They're the crumbs I've left behind. (They have already been expressed.) Your pain is no credential here, (Your personal suffering is not special, and entitles you to nothing) It's just the shadow, shadow of my wound. (But it shows you where I am inside your psyche)
I have begun to long for you, (You are feeling the need to say) I who have no greed (What does not need or want to be said) I have begun to ask for you, (You are becoming a chosen vehicle of my expression) I who have no need. (Although I am omnipresent in everyone already) You say you've gone away from me, (You want to separate your life from the force you invoked, and find a gentler muse)
But I can feel you when you breathe. (But I'm in you now, constantly, like it or not.)
Do not dress in those rags for me, (Don't pretend your personal experience of suffering is unique and worthy of sympathy) I know you are not poor (It isn't, and we both know it.) And don't love me quite so fiercely now (I gave you ideas, and you were proud, but lose the pride) When you know that you are not sure, (You have not yet fully experienced me) It is your turn, beloved,
It is your flesh that I wear (But you will. And so will others, through you.).